LOS ANGELES
Two Long Beach police officers have been charged with lying about an arrest three years ago, officials announced Monday
“Law enforcement officers have a legal and moral obligation to the people they serve to always tell the truth,” District Attorney George Gascón said. “The failure of a sworn peace officer to tell the truth can result in an innocent person losing their freedom.”
Dedier Reyes, 38, and David Salcedo, 28, were charged last week with one count each of filing a false report and falsifying a public record, prosecutors stated.
Reyes also faces one count of perjury, according to officials.
On February 15, 2018, the defendants were patrolling an area and detained two men outside of a taqueria. The officers found a bag with a loaded handgun inside.
The officers are accused of lying about the circumstances surrounding the recovery of a handgun, which caused the wrong person to be arrested and briefly held in custody.
Additionally, Reyes is charged with filing the report under the penalty of perjury.
The case remains under investigation by the Long Beach Police Department.